Adapting to the consequences of climate change
Adaptation
As the consequences of climate change worsen, a new objective has emerged: adaptation to climate change.
Heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires—the global rise in temperature is disrupting the climate system and exacerbating certain risks.
Adapting: A local and systemic challenge
The impacts of climate change will vary significantly from one territory to another. Heatwaves, extreme rainfall, and other climate-related hazards will have different consequences depending on factors such as the local environment (e.g., agricultural land, urban areas, forests), the composition of the population (e.g., the elderly, vulnerable groups), existing infrastructure (e.g., transport networks), and economic activity. These effects will challenge the continued provision of public services—such as schools, access to healthcare, and the maintenance of roads and other infrastructure.
To account for local realities, adaptation to climate change must therefore be addressed at the local level.
It is important to distinguish between adaptation to climate change and mitigation.
Adaptation to climate change involves protecting the population from the consequences of climate disruption, including extreme weather events.
Mitigation of climate change aims to combat global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Adapting to the consequences of climate change
From these definitions, it is clear that adaptation entails taking action in response to the consequences of climate change—whether those consequences are already being felt or are expected in the future—whereas mitigation focuses on the causes of global warming, namely greenhouse gas emissions.
This includes, among other things, adapting to heatwaves and rising temperatures. There are various options for adapting to high temperatures, such as planting trees in cities, insulating buildings, or providing free access to municipal swimming pools during heatwaves.
Another risk exacerbated by climate change is drought. Combating groundwater pollution, collecting rainwater, and removing asphalt from public squares and the areas around buildings—all these measures help, in particular, with adapting to droughts.
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